Dr. Waddell

Dr. Freddy Jack Waddell passed away, August 19, 2014 in San Angelo, TX. He is the oldest son of Fred and Luella Waddell of Roby, Texas. He was born September 22, 1929 in Portales, New Mexico. His family returned to Fisher County when his grandmother summoned all family members to return home to weather the Depression together. His family were cotton farmers, living near the communities of Captola and Roby.
He attended Roby Schools and was an exceptional tennis player. He was the first in his family to go to college, earning his B.S. at Abilene Christian College. He enjoyed a successful tennis career at ACC. He was particularly proud that while in college he was a member of the infamous Nauseating Nine, a popular music group in the Abilene area in the 1940s.
Dr. Waddell graduated in 1950 and married Mary Lu Romine that year. They lived in Hobbs, Texas, where he taught school. In 1952, he moved the family to Orange County, California, where he taught school, then worked at Wilshire Oil Company, of which he remained proud throughout his life. He received his Masters Degree in Education Administration from Long Beach State College and became principal and superintendent of the Oakhurst Union Elementary School District from 1957 1967. For two years he was Dean of Magic Valley Christian College in Albion, Idaho.
He earned a Doctorate at North Texas State University, the first in his family, and worked at the Region 5 Education Service Center in Beaumont, TX. In 1978 he became the Executive Director, a post he held until his retirement in 1990. He lived in Austin, TX until his recent illness, when he moved to San Angelo.
Freddy Jack was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He was a founder of the Oakhurst Church of Christ in Oakhurst, California, and served as its minister for the ten years that he lived there. He was a deeply religious man whose sermons, delivered in a common language that was intelligent but approachable, were inspirational and enjoyable for the congregation.
Dr. Waddell loved serving children through the public schools and the Service Center. He loved all children, particularly young ones. He was the most devoted of family men. He loved all members of the family and personally knit them together from across the country and Canada, by organizing reunions until just a few years ago. He was a devoted, faithful husband, married to Mary Lu Romine for sixty four years. He was a wonderful father and was the most doting grandfather a child could have. He had a keen mind and a great curiosity, combined with a wonderful sense of humor and a zest for life.
Freddy Jack is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Luella, his brother Billy John Bubba Waddell and his sisterinlaw Joan Waddell.
Freddy Jack is survived by his wife, Mary Lu his three sons and two daughtersinlaw, Stephen and Cheryl Waddell of Flower Mound, Rick and Nancy Waddell of San Angelo, and Dan Waddell of Austin his grandchildren, Sarah, Lindsay, Jason and Ryan and two greatgrandchildren, Soren Luke and Rylan. He has two surviving brothers, Franklin D. Waddell of College Station and Don Allan Waddell of Roby a sisterinlaw, Frankie Waddell of Roby. He has numerous cousins and nephews, including his special cousin Sis, Jean Hutto of Austin.

Visitation

WeathersbeeRay Funeral Home
111 N. McKinley
Rotan, TX  79546
Friday, August 22, 2014
6:007:00 p.m.

Service

Funeral Service

Church of Christ
1701 S. 1st
Roby, TX  79543

Cemetery

Roby Cemetery
1 mi. N of Roby on TX-70
Roby, TX  79543